Becoming a confident speller can be a challenge. To learn spelling words effectively, use strategies that are appropriate to the child’s age and the type of words being studied.

A) Regular words and how to spell them
Regular words can be spelled according to the sequence of the sounds they contain (e.g. ‘mat’, ‘cataract’, ‘understanding’). They can be grouped into word families based on their spelling patterns, and they tend to follow rules. So:

• Use phonological awareness. Listen to the sounds that make up a word and write down the corresponding letter(s) in the correct order.
• Think of other words that share the same spelling pattern. A child who can spell ‘ball’ can easily spell ‘fall’, ‘call’, ‘tall’ and ‘small’ etc.
• Learn useful spelling rules, and understand when and how to use them.

• Use multi-sensory activities like rainbow writing, using a finger to write the word in sand or shaving foam spread over a table-top, or moulding the letters out of play-doh.
• Use colourful magnetic letters to form the word on a baking sheet. Jumble the letters up and then unscramble them. Remove a letter and say what has gone missing.
• Say the word aloud as it is spelled and remember the quirky pronunciation to help with writing it down (e.g. ‘know’ as ‘kay-now’ rather than to rhyme with ‘no’).

Victoria Hobbs
Educational Therapist
BSc in Psychology, United Kingdom

Victoria started working with children in the UK, supporting children with autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, and developmental delays. She also spent time in a mainstream school helping young children learn to read and write, and teaching them to enjoy stories and books. Victoria is an avid reader and would like every child to experience reading as a pleasure rather than a chore.

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General Spelling Tips

1. Look at the word.
Count the letters. Use colour to highlight silent letters or unusual patterns. Look for stand-out features like double letters, repeated letters, or hidden words inside (e.g. ‘elephANT’).

2. Know how to read the word, and what it means.
Create and illustrate a sentence containing the word. Practise saying it loud and using it in conversation. Link the word to other words that are related by either meaning or spelling.

3. Separate longer words into chunks.
Split them into syllables or identify roots and affixes. Common prefixes (e.g. ‘dis’) and suffixes (e.g. ‘tion’) can be learned separately. Practise writing or reciting one chunk at a time and then recombine them. This will lessen the load on memory.

4. Split a spelling list into sections.
Work on three or four words at a time. If possible, pick out those which share a spelling pattern or common feature to be learned together. Revise them the next day. This will help avoid any frustration or anxiety.

5. Make spelling enjoyable!
Try different activities that engage children’s interest more than repetitive writing or reciting. Create word-shapes, build letter pyramids, or come up with mnemonics (the ‘o-u-l-d’ sequence in ‘could’ can be remembered as ‘Oh U Lucky Duck). High-interest information is retained in memory more readily, and motivation is an important element of successful learning.